Plant dusting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing dry powdered, particle or particulate compositions of matter on plantlife and including a handle, means on the handle for supporting a receptacle for the matter, and pump means carried on the supporting means and operatively connected with the receptacle to effect broadcasting of the matter.

United States Patent inventor John F. Roche 1259 W. 71st Terrace. Kansas City, M0. 641 14 Appl. No. 835,985

Filed June 24, 1969 Patented June 22, 1971 PLANT DUSTING APPARATUS l 1 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl 867d 5/54 Field of Search 222/193,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,792,151 5/1957 Wagner 222/193 3,276,162 9/1966 Chester 222/193 X 2,961,129 11/1960 Bullock 222/193 Primary ExaminerEv0n C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. Lane AtI0rneyKimme1,Cr0wel1 & Weaver ABSTRACT: Apparatus for dispensing dry powdered, particle or particulate compositions of matter on plantlife and including a handle, means on the handle for supporting a receptacle for the matter, and pump means carried on the supporting means and operatively connected with the receptacle to effect broadcasting of the matter.

PLANT DUSTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the-Invention This invention relates to a handle supported receptacle or container having a dry powdered insecticide or like material therein, and motor-driven air pump means supported on the handle and communicating with the receptacle to draw the insecticide therefrom for discharge through nozzle means as a dust to treat plantlife, and valve means for controlling the rate of material discharge.

2. Description of the Prior Art Apparatus for spraying plantlife with an insecticide is not, per se, new in the several arts. For the most part, however, such apparatus involves the use of liquid sprays with an insecticide in suspension or in solution with a liquid carrier, and this involves the use of a relatively high-powered motor for driving the required pump means, and this is attendant with a high pressure discharge spray and, of course, high operational costs. Examples of such apparatus are those sprays or dispensing means as are employed in spraying trees and orchards and those trees which appear in urban developments.

Handheld liquid spray means are also involved in the art, but for the most part these devices, if motor-driven, require connection to a conventional high voltage outlet source and are, thus, subject to short circuiting and have but limited utility depending upon the availability of the outlet plug. Such apparatus also tends to leak causing other obvious problems.

Liquid spray devices for treating plantlife of the manually operated pump type are also old and well known, but to be effective, the air pump piston therefor must reciprocate a relatively long distance in its chamber (usually the handle means), and the operation of such apparatus requires the expenditure of appreciable energy. Further, and because of the usual long handle found in such equipment such devices are not only cumbersome but require considerable room in which to operate, for to the length of the handle must be added the length of the piston rod when extended. Still further, such hand-operated spraying mechanisms, like their power driven counterparts, are subject to leakage and other failures and disadvantages which are well known especially to amateur andprofessional gardeners.

Dusting mechanisms, that is, power driven mechanisms for distributing a powdered material, are also known, but these devices have not been developed for the use in the treating of plantlife. Generally such devices which have been designed for the spraying of powdered material have a common disadvantage in that they will clog and the moving parts will bind. Dust will accumulate in bearings increasing the frictional characteristics thereof which leads to excessive wear and frequent replacement of parts.

None of the mechanisms referred to above meet the challenge of suitably dusting, dispensing, broadcasting or otherwise treating plantlife such as, for example, delicately petaled flowers and foliage, vines and plants of this same general class, and still other plantlife which may be easily destroyed when liquid sprayed or dry dusted with the high-pressure apparatus or mechanisms of the known prior art.

SUMMARY This invention pertains to the provision of a unitary, selfcontained power driven apparatus for dusting, dispensing, distributing, dry spraying and otherwise broadcasting a dry powdered insecticide or other powdered treating compositions on plantlife to promote the growth thereof and to inhibit or totally prevent damage thereto by inamicable pests, fungus, parasites, and other agents which tend to damage or destroy plant growths. To accomplish the desired objects, the apparatus of this invention is lightweight and very compact, and the apparatus includes elongated handle means to be singlehandedly held and manipulated by the user, the handle means being substantially hollow throughout its length and having a support or mounting plate fixedly secured on one of its ends, and on the latter is mounted a receptacle or container to receive the powdered material. Electrically operated air pump means is also supported on the aforementioned one end of the handle means, and the invention is further characterized in providing a source of electrical energy in the handle means for connection to the air pump motor. Electrical circuitry connects the motor with the energysource, and the circuitry includes a control switch mounted on the handle means for convenient operation by the user. Of importance to this invention is the provision of air valve control means for controlling the rate of discharge of the dispensed material.

The invention further proposes the provision of such apparatus which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain, and which is rugged and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in the light of the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is an end elevational view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail cross-sectional view of the device or apparatus of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal detail cross-sectional view of a receptacle or container for the powdered material, the receptacle or container being constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of this invention and illustrating other components thereof, FIG. 5 being taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a transverse detail cross-sectional view, FIG. 6 being taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram for energizing the air pump motor. As has been stated above, the device or apparatus of the instant invention is directly concerned with means for dry dusting, spraying, broadcasting or dispensing powdered materials on plantlife to inhibit, prevent or materially reduce attacks thereon. The dusting composition or material has been heretofore referred to as a dry powdered, particle or particulate form of insecticide material. However, and by way of general definition, the composition of the matter to be dry sprayed or broadcast may, in addition to insecticides, also include dry powdered fungicides, bactericides, herbicides, and all other dry powdered compositions which normally promote the growth of plantlife, and other materials especially compounded to offset, reduce or eliminate the onslaughts of destruction for whatever the cause. Thus, in the detailed description of the invention which follows, infra, such powdered, particle or particulate dry compositions ofcompounded matter will be generally referred to as a powdered material." It will also be understood that the same apparatus may be utilized in, broadcasting powdered material for the purpose of killing, destroying, or otherwise preventing, prohibiting, or reducing to a minimum, unwanted plant growths such as, for example, weeds and crabgrass.

Thus, and referring now more specifically to F IG. 1 to 4, inelusive, of the first embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a unitary, self-contained apparatus or device constructed in accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of this invention. As such, the apparatus is seen to include an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical handle member 12 having a pair of opposed open ends. One end of the handle member 12 is closed by a cap 14 which is secured thereon by conventional friction means (not shown), and its opposed end is fixedly connected, by conventional means (not shown), to the upper end of the support or mounting plate 16 having any suitable peripheral configuration. Preferably, the support or mounting plate 16 is provided with opposed substantially planar sides 16A, 16B.

At 18 is denoted an elongated substantially hollow receptacle or container for the powdered material, and as is seen in the several Figures of the drawings, the container or receptacle 18 comprises an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical sidewall 20 having a pair of opposed open and closed ends. One end of the cylindrical sidewall 20 is closed by a substantially flat discoidal or cylindrical end wall 22 which may be integrally fon'ned therewith or fixedly connected thereon. The other end of the container 18 is provided with a removable closure member 24 which includes a substantially flat cylindrical cap plate 25 from the peripheral marginal edge of which laterally projects an annular internally threaded flange 26. The cap 24 is normally threadedly engaged with the threads 27 externally formed on the aforementioned other end of the sidewall 20.

The end wall 22 may be integrally formed with or adhesively or mechanically connected substantially flush on the side 16A of the support or mounting plate 16 so as to, preferably, effect a seal therebetween. The connection is such as to prevent undesirable leakage of the powdered material disposed within the receptacle or container 18.

The mounting or support plate 16 and the end wall 22 are formed with coaxial bores 28, 30, respectively, each having identical diameters, and with the bores 28, 30 being offset with respect to the center point of the end wall 22.

Reference numeral 32 indicates an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical air inlet conduit having an upper end 32A, reference being made to FIG. 4 of the drawings, fixedly connected adhesively, frictionally or mechanically (if desired) in the bores 28, 30, with its upper terminal end being disposed substantially in the plane of the side 16B of the mounting or support plate 16. The outer end of the conduit 32 projects beyond the side 16A into the receptacle 18, and terminates in inwardly spaced relationship relative to the cap plate 25.

With further reference to FIG. 4 of the drawings, it is seen that the mounting or support plate 16 and the end wall 22 are constructed with additional coaxially aligned bores 34, 36, respectively, these bores being of the same diameter, and this diameter is greater than the diameter of the bores 28, 30. The function of the bores 34, 36 will be related below.

A substantially hollow cylindrical casing bears the general reference numeral 38, casing 38 being constructed of a substantially cylindrical closure wall 42 from the peripheral marginal edge of one side of which laterally projects an annular flange 44. The mounting plate 16, the flange 44, and the closure wall 42 cooperate to limn a hollow air chamber 45. An elongated substantially hollow cylindrical material discharge pipe 46 extends transversely through the closure wall 42 and has opposed end portions, 46A and 46B, respectively, projecting laterally from the opposed sides thereof. The conduit 46 is secured on the closure wall 42 in an offcenter relationship relative thereto, and has an outside diameter substantially equal to the coaxial bores 44, 46 in which it is adapted to be received and secured to serve a function to be described. As is seen in the drawings, the lower terminal end of the end portion 468 is substantially coplanar with the lower terminal end of the air pipe 32, reference being had to FIG. 4.

The closure wall 42, also at an offcenter location, is formed with a transversely extending air valve opening 48. A valve plate 50 is pivotally mounted by conventional means on the Reference numeral 56 generally indicated a conventional air pump and aspirating mechanism. The mechanism 56 includes the usual electric motor 58 and its drive shaft 60 on which is fixedly secured an impeller assembly 62 for rotation therewith. The assembly 62 includes a cylindrical mounting plate 64 having a side thereof rigidly connected to the drive shaft 60, and 70 A, its respectively, side laterally project a plurality of air impeller blades 66.

The mechanism 56 further comprises a combined hollow housing for the impeller blades 66 and a material discharge nozzle for the device, this unit being identified by the reference numeral 68. The unit 68 may be considered as having a convolute configuration and comprises an opposed pair of arcuately shaped spaced and substantially parallel sidewalls 70, 72 having extensions 70A, 72A, respectively and an arcuate end wall 74 which terminates at its respective ends in tongues 74A, 748. The arcuate sidewalls 70, 72 and the arcuate end wall 74 are assembledso as to partially surround the impeller blade assembly 62 in spaced relationship relative thereto and to define a hollow material receiving and discharge chamber 76. The extensions 70A, 72A and the tongues 74A, 74B are assembled to form a substantially hollow rectangular material discharge nozzle 78 having its inner end opening into the chamber 76 and its other end opening into the ambient atmosphere. The unit is further provided with a material inlet opening 80 which is formed in the sidewall 72 which, at one end, opens into the air chamber 76. As is clearly shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the electric motor 58 is supported'on the arcuate sidewall 70 and is secured thereon by conventional means (not shown), and its drive shaft 60 extends through a suitable opening 82 that extends transversely through the last-mentioned sidewall. Any suitable conventional means (not shown) may be used to connect the outer terminal end 468 of the pipe end 46 to the peripheral marginal edge of the opening 80.

Disposed and supported in the handle 12 is one or more batteries here carrying the general reference numeral 82. The batteries 82 are removable and replaceable after having first removed the handle cap 14. The batteries 82 comprise the EMF source for energizing the motor 58 and are electrically connectedthereto by any conventional electric circuit here schematically illustrated as a series circuit of FIG. 7. The series circuit includes the motor 58, the battery or batteries 82 and a conventional single pole single throw control switch generally designated by the reference numeral 84.

The switch 84 includes a switch arm 86 constantly biased to its open position and a fixed switch contact 88. The switch arm 86 and its associated contact 88 are mounted and received within a housing 90 fixedly connected on the handle 12 adjacent its cap 14. The housing 90 also serves as a mounting support for the conventional pushbutton actuator 92 for the switch arm 86.

The series circuit also includes a wire 94 which leads from one side of the battery 82 to the switch arm 86, this wire being preferably located in the handle 12. Wires 96, 98 lead from the other side of the battery and the fixed switch contact 88, respectively, to the opposed sides of the motor 58. These lastmentioned wires are preferably joined as a cable 100 to extend through the handle 12, exiting therefrom through a handle opening 102 for electrical connection with the motor 58 in the customary manner.

To operate the apparatus 10 constructed and assembled as above described, the closure member 24 is removed and the receptacle or container 18 is filled with the desired dry powdered material 102 which is to be dusted or sprayed over the plantlife to be treated. The cover or closure member 24 is then replaced.

With the handle 12 grasped in the hand of the user, the nozzle 78 is then brought into juxtaposition relative to the plants or area to receive the dusting. The pushbutton actuator 92 for the switch 84 is conveniently located for digital operation and is pushed inwardly to close the switch arm 86 against the fixed switch contact 88. This completes the circuit to the motor 58,

and with the motor energized, the impeller assembly 62 is rotatably driven.

Assuming that the valve plate 50 is closed, the driven impeller assembly 62 will act as an aspirating mechanism to draw the dry powdered material 102 upwardly through the material discharge pipe or conduit 46, the material passing into the chamber 76 for ultimate discharge through the nozzle means 78.

Where conditions warrant the broadcasting of the powdered material over wider areas or where heavier dusting is required, the valve plate 50 may be swung to uncover the air valve opening 48 to a greater or lesser degree. Atmospheric air is then admitted through the opening 48 into the air chamber 45, and is drawn through the air conduit or pipe 32 towards the lower end of the receptacle or container 18, reference being made to FIG. 4. Here the material 102 becomes entrained with the air and is drawn upwardly through the discharge pipe or conduit 46 into the chamber 76. The impeller blades 66 now force the air and its entrained material through the discharge nozzle 78 and onto the plantlife to be treated. The rate of discharge is, of course, controlled by the position of the valve plate 50 across its associated'air valve opening 48. FlG. 5 and 6 illustrate the second embodiment of this invention. Consequently, elements of these Figures finding counterparts in the first embodiment bear the same reference numerals but to which has been added a prime mark to effect the differentiation therebetween.

In this embodiment, the receptacle 18' is constructed with a cylindrical sidewall 20' which, in FIG. 5, is shown as being integrally formed with the support or mounting plate 16'. The opposed end of the receptacle 20 is externally threaded at 27' and is closed by a cap member 24'. This cap member 24' has a frustoconical configuration and includes a sidewall 200, an end wall 202 disposed in the plane of its frustum, and an integrally formed internally threaded annular flange 204 at its base end. The flange 204 is adapted for threaded connection with the threads 27' on the sidewall 20.

The material discharge pipe or conduit 46' is here shown as being coaxial with the container or receptacle 18 instead of offcenter as is shown in the previous embodiment, and in this second embodiment there is provided a plurality of air inlet pipes or conduits 32 arranged in tangential engagement with the discharge pipe or conduit 46'.

One other point of distinction may be made between the two embodiments of this invention, namely, in the latter embodiment, the lower ends of the conduits or pipes 32, 46', reference being made to FIG. 5, extend beyond the adjacent lower end of the receptacle or container 18 and into the cap member 24. This facilitates the loading of the container or receptacle [8' without danger of inadvertently or accidentally pouring some of the material into the conduits or pipes 32, 46 for collection in the air chamber 45' or in the impeller chamber 76. Such misadventure could clog both chambers. With respect to the chamber 45, the available air supply would be reduced, and concerning the chamber 76, an unnecessary and unwanted starting load would be imposed on the motor 58.

In all other respects, the second embodiment of this invention follows the teachings of the first.

The two embodiments of this invention herein specifically described and illustrated are now defined in the appended claims.

Whatl claim is:

1. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and apparatus for dusting plantlife with a dry powdered, particle, or particulate material and comprising:

an elongated handle having a pair of opposed ends;

a mounting plate having a pair of opposed sides with one end of said handle being fixedly connected on one side thereof;

a substantially hollow material receiving receptacle having a pair of opposed ends with one of its ends fixedly connected on and sealed against the other side of said mounting plate;

removable closure means extending across the other end of said receptacle;

means air venting said receptacle to the atmosphere;

a material discharge conduit having a pair of opposed open ends with one of its said ends in communication with said receptacle and the material therein;

pump means including a material discharge nozzle at one side thereof, and a material inlet opening connected with the other end ofsaid material discharge conduit; and

means for actuating said pump means to draw said material from said receptacle and to broadcast said material therefrom through said nozzle;

means providing an air chamber for said receptacle, said air chamber means comprising a substantially cylindrical closure wall having a continuous flange at a peripheral marginal edge projecting laterally from a side thereof and secured to said one side of said mounting plate to define said air chamber therebetween; and

said air venting means including an opening extending transversely through said closure wall, and an elongated conduit having opposed ends with one end opening into said receptacle and its other end opening into said air chamber.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said one end of said material discharge conduit and said air vent conduit terminate in coplanar relationship relative to one another and in spaced relationship relative to said removable closure means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said removable closure means comprises a cylindrical cap plate having a continuous flange projecting from a side thereof for releasable connection on said other end of said receptacle.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said releasable connection comprises friction means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said other end of said material discharge conduit extends transversely through and beyond said air chamber closure wall and is connected with said air pump means inlet and supports said air pump means thereon.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 and valve means controlling the flow of air through said opening formed in said closure wall.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said valve means comprises a plate pivotally mounted on said closure wall for selective swinging movement across said opening.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said material discharge and air venting conduits extend parallel to one another and are disposed in offcenter but parallel relationship relative to the longitudinal axis of said receptacle.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said material discharge conduit is substantially coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of sad receptacle, and a plurality of air venting conduits are provided in tangential engagement with said material discharge conduit.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the other ends of all of said conduits extend beyond the adjacent end of said receptacle.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and Apparatus for dusting plantlife with a dry powdered, particle, or particulate material and comprising:

an elongated handle having a pair of opposed ends; a mounting plate having a pair of opposed sides with one end of said handle being fixedly connected on one side thereof;

a substantially hollow material receiving receptacle having a pair of opposed ends with one of its ends fixedly connected on and sealed against the other side of said mounting plate;

removable closure means extending across the other end of said receptacle;

means air venting said receptacle to the atmosphere;

a material discharge conduit having a pair of opposed open ends with one of its said ends in communication with said receptacle and the material therein;

pump means including a material discharge nozzle at one side thereof, and a material inlet opening connected with the other end of said material discharge conduit; and

means for actuating said pump means to draw said material from said receptacle and to broadcast said material therefrom through said nozzle;

means providing an air chamber for said receptacle, said air chamber means comprising a substantially cylindrical closure wall having a continuous flange at a peripheral marginal edge of projecting laterally from a side thereof and secured to said one side of said mounting plate to define said air chamber therebetween;

said closure means comprising a substantially frustoconical hollow sidewall, an end wall disposed substantially in the plane of the frustum of said sidewall, and a flange projecting from the base end of said sidewall for connection to said other end of said receptacle;

said other end of said material discharge conduit extending transversely through and beyond said air chamber closure wall and connected with said air pump means inlet to support said air pump means thereon;

said material discharge conduit being substantially coaxially arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of said receptacle;

said venting means further including a plurality of elongated conduits having opposed ends with one of their respective ends opening into said receptacle and their other respective ends opening into said air chamber, said one ends of said plurality of conduits terminating in substantially coplanar relationship relative to the adjacent end of said material discharge conduit; and

said last-named ends of all of said conduits having an axial length greater than the axial length of said receptacle with said adjacent ends of all of said conduits extending beyond the adjacent end of said receptacle. 

1. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and apparatus for dusting plantlife with a dry powdered, particle, or particulate material and comprising: an elongated handle having a pair of opposed ends; a mounting plate having a pair of opposed sides with one end of said handle being fixedly connected on one side thereof; a substantially hollow material receiving receptacle having a pair of opposed ends with one of its ends fixedly connected on and sealed against the other side of said mounting plate; removable closure means extending across the other end of said receptacle; means air venting said receptacle to the atmosphere; a material discharge conduit having a pair of opposed open ends with one of its said ends in communication with said receptacle and the material therein; pump means including a material discharge nozzle at one side thereof, and a material inlet opening connected with the other end of said material discharge conduit; and means for actuating said pump means to draw said material from said receptacle and to broadcast said material therefrom through said nozzle; means providing an air chamber for said receptacle, said air chamber means comprising a substantially cylindrical closure wall having a continuous flange at a peripheral marginal edge projecting laterally from a side thereof and secured to said one side of said mounting plate to define said air chamber therebetween; and said air venting means including an opening extending transversely through said closure wall, and an elongated conduit having opposed ends with one end opening into said receptacle and its other end opening into said air chamber.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said one end of said material discharge conduit and said air vent conduit terminate in coplanar relationship relative to one another and in spaced relationship relative to said removable closure means.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said removable closure means comprises a cylindrical cap plate having a continuous flange projecting from a side thereof for releasable connection on said other end of said receptacle.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said releasable connection comprises friction means.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said other end of said material discharge conduit extends transversely through and beyond said air chamber closure wall and is connected with said air pump means inlet and supports said air pump means thereon.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 and valve means controlling the flow of air through said opening formed in said closure wall.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said valve means comprises a plate pivotally mounted on said closure wall for selective swinging movement across said opening.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said material discharge and air venting conduits extend parallel to one another and are disposed in offcenter but parallel relationship relative to the longitudinal axis of said receptacle.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said material discharge conduit is substantially coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of sad receptacle, and a plurality of air venting conduits are provided in tangential engagement with said material discharge conduit.
 10. ApparatuS as defined in claim 9 wherein the other ends of all of said conduits extend beyond the adjacent end of said receptacle.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and Apparatus for dusting plantlife with a dry powdered, particle, or particulate material and comprising: an elongated handle having a pair of opposed ends; a mounting plate having a pair of opposed sides with one end of said handle being fixedly connected on one side thereof; a substantially hollow material receiving receptacle having a pair of opposed ends with one of its ends fixedly connected on and sealed against the other side of said mounting plate; removable closure means extending across the other end of said receptacle; means air venting said receptacle to the atmosphere; a material discharge conduit having a pair of opposed open ends with one of its said ends in communication with said receptacle and the material therein; pump means including a material discharge nozzle at one side thereof, and a material inlet opening connected with the other end of said material discharge conduit; and means for actuating said pump means to draw said material from said receptacle and to broadcast said material therefrom through said nozzle; means providing an air chamber for said receptacle, said air chamber means comprising a substantially cylindrical closure wall having a continuous flange at a peripheral marginal edge of projecting laterally from a side thereof and secured to said one side of said mounting plate to define said air chamber therebetween; said closure means comprising a substantially frustoconical hollow sidewall, an end wall disposed substantially in the plane of the frustum of said sidewall, and a flange projecting from the base end of said sidewall for connection to said other end of said receptacle; said other end of said material discharge conduit extending transversely through and beyond said air chamber closure wall and connected with said air pump means inlet to support said air pump means thereon; said material discharge conduit being substantially coaxially arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of said receptacle; said venting means further including a plurality of elongated conduits having opposed ends with one of their respective ends opening into said receptacle and their other respective ends opening into said air chamber, said one ends of said plurality of conduits terminating in substantially coplanar relationship relative to the adjacent end of said material discharge conduit; and said last-named ends of all of said conduits having an axial length greater than the axial length of said receptacle with said adjacent ends of all of said conduits extending beyond the adjacent end of said receptacle. 